Amusement device



y 1937. J. N. BARTLETT 2,08L261 AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed April 13, 1934 3Sheets-Sheet l F/GJ FIGQZ 6 ATTERNEY May 25,1937. J. N. BARTLETTAMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed April v13, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.3

gwuentoz John N. Barllell.

#42 dbtomwq May 25, 1937. J. N. BARTLETT 2,081,261

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed April 13, 1934 s Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 7 95 rINVENTOR.

John NBarZleZZ 19119.4 TTORNEY Patented May 25 1937 UNITED STATES FATENTOFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to amusement devices and more particularlyrelates to passenger carrying cars for such devices.

One object of this invention is to provide a self propelled car adaptedto be self steering on a banked runway.

Another object of this invention is to provide a self propelled caradapted to be included ina train of such cars, each car being selfpropelled and self steered on a banked runway, the construction of saidcars being such as to prevent any car from buckling out of line with theremaining cars comprising the train.

A further object of the invention is to provide a car so constructedthat whena plurality of such cars are coupled together the entire trainmay slip sidewise from a banked turn, veach car maintaining its properposition in line.

Another object is to provide a self propelled, self steering passengercar, a plurality of which cars are adapted to be coupled together toform a train, all of saidrcars being simultaneously controlled from asingle point on the train.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a controldevice on a train comprising a plurality of cars of the type indicatedadapted simultaneously to control a plurality of internal combustionengines.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a device forcontrolling simultaneously a plurality of gear changing devices, saidgear changing devices being located on separate cars comprising a train.

Another object is to provide in a train comprising a plurality ofpassenger cars a device forsimultaneously operating a plurality ofclutching devices.

A further objectis to provide a runway having a long straight portionwhereon the car attains a high velocity, said runway having a spiraldescending turn at one end and an ascending banked turn at the otherend.

A further object of the invention is to provide a car having its bodyportion pivotally connected for flexibility.

Still a further object is to design a car to simulate a rocket car andfurther to provide novel concealed couplings wherebya plurality of suchcars may be coupled together into a train.

With these and other incidental objects in view, the invention includescertainnovel features of construction and combination of parts, the essential elements of which are set; forth in the appended claims and apreferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described withreference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of thisspecification.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the banked runway.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the banked runway. a

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of one of the cars having a portionthereof broken away better to disclose the driving means.

7 Fig. 4 is atop plan view of the car.

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the car.

Fig. 6 illustrates a modified form of the car adapted to be gravityoperated and showing two cars coupled together, the coupling means beingconcealed. v

Fig. '7 is a schematic view of the several controls.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken through the trackway on line 8-8,Fig. 1. i

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken through the trackway on line 9-9, Fig.1.

Fig. 10 diagrammatically illustrates a plurality of gravity operatedcars coupled together to form a train. v

This invention relates to an improvement in amusement device's wherein apassenger carrying car operates on a banked runway, the design of therunway being such'that the car will attain a high velocity and will beself steering throughout the entire runway, the design of the car" beingsuch as to permit either gravity or power propulsion.

The cars are adapted to be individually driven and consequently may beoperated singly or they may be coupled together to form trainscomprising a plurality of cars under the control of a single operator.To this end I provide an individual drive means for each car inorderthat each car being so driven will maintain approximately thesamespeed as the rest of the cars in the train and thusovercome the tendencyto buckle out of line. The last cars in the train are prevented fromwhipping from side to side by the use of individual drive means. Anyconventional drive means of suitable design may be employed, a smallinternal combustion engine being disclosed in the illustrativeembodiment of theinvention.

There is disclosed a runway having one of its ends ascending to asuitable altitude and then, by means of a steep spiral, descending to along level, straight section of trackway. The cars may ascend to thetopof the spiral under their own self contained power plants or they maybe drawn to the elevated portion by extraneous means. Gravity enablesthe cars to attain a very high velocity in descending the spiral portionof the runway, which velocity, due to a minimum of friction, issubstantially maintained throughout the major part of the straightportion of the runway. The velocity of the cars is diminished as theyascend a gradual inclined loop at the opposite end of the runway afterwhich the cars descend a gentle grade to a loading platform where theymay be brought to a stop by any suitable stopping means, or, in case ofthe self propelled cars, they may be stopped by applying their ownbrakes.

The carrier or car is designed to be flexible and is supported entirelyon caster wheels in order that they may be self steering on all parts ofthe runway. Stabilizing springs are provided one for each caster wheelto prevent the cars from buckling out of line and to prevent the rearcars from whipping from side to side.

The car illustrated in Figures 3, 1, and 5 is constructed to simulate aso-called rocket car. The body of the car is made in two parts which arepivotally joined to provide horizontal flexibility. The car is mountedon a plurality of rubbertired caster wheels under spring tension toprovide stability when the cars are traveling at high speed, and topermit all cars in a train of cars to be self steering.

The front portion l5 of the car is pivoted at IE to the rear portion I1, and has pivoted to its under side a bar or truck member 18 on whichis mounted a pair of casters H9. The bar I8 is pivoted on a draw bar 24(Fig. 3) which extends through brackets l8 secured to the bottom of thefore part of the car. Extending inwardly from the caster frames 26 arearms 2| (Fig. 5) to which are attached springs 22 having their otherends attached to a bracket 23 secured to the cross bar 8. The draw bar24 which is slidably mounted in the bar I8 and in the brackets I8 ispivotally connected to a cross bar 25 secured to the under side of therear portion of the car and near the forward end thereof. Pivoted inbrackets 26 secured to the bar 25 are truck frames 21 and 28 one at eachside of the car and extending) longitudinally thereof. At their forwardends the frames 21 and 28 respectively carry caster wheels 29 and 30,the brackets 3i and 32 of which have inwardly extending arms 33 to whichare secured springs 34 having their other ends secured to the brackets35. These brackets are secured to the frames 21 and 28 and extendinwardly therefrom.

The rearwardly extending ends of the frames 21 and 28 carry casterbrackets 36 and 31 respectively in which are mounted caster wheels 38and 39. Springs 40 are stretched between inwardly extending arms 4| onthe caster brackets 36 and 31, and brackets 42 extending inwardly fromthe frames 21 and 28.

The rear caster wheels 43 are mounted in brackets 44 supported by across bar or truck member 45 pivotally supported on a bracket 46 securedto the bottom of the rear body of the car. Springs 41 are stretchedbetween arms 48 on the brackets 44 and a projection 49 on the cross bar45. All of the caster wheels are so mounted that their vertical axesintersect the runway at right angles.

In order to prevent the forward part l5 of the car from folding back onthe rear portion l1 compression springs 56 are provided. These springsare enclosed in tubes 5| pivoted to the rear portion of the body and arecompressed between a member 53 (Fig. 3) and a plunger 54 pivotallymounted in projections 55 on the forward portion of the body.

An important feature of my invention is the provision of the springs 22,34, 40 and 41. The purpose of these springs is to make each individualcar in the train self steering on the troughlike runway, and to preventthe cars from buckling and whipping out of line. The tension of thesesprings is carefully adjusted to give those springs toward the rear ofthe car a greater tension than those at the front of the car, that is,

r the springs 40 have somewhat less tension than the springs 41, andsprings 34 have less tension than springs 40, etc. When a train of carsside slips from a banked turn these springs permit all cars to slipsidewise at the same time insuring that each car will maintain itsalinement in the train. The tension of these springs also tends to keepthe cars at the rear of the train on a steady course and overcomes thetendency to whip from side to side.

One advantage in providing an individual drive means for each car in atrain comprising a plurality of cars is that the propelling force isapplied evenly on each car of the train which avoids the naturaltendency of the intermediate cars to pull down from a banking turn whenpower is applied at the front end of the train only.

If the power were applied on the rear car only the tendency of thepreceding cars would be to buckle out of line, which is also avoided bydriving each car in a train individually.

Each car is therefore propelled by an individual motor indicatedgenerally at 56 (Fig. 3) and mounted on a platform 51 having its forwardend pivoted horizontally at 58 to a swivel 59 pivoted on a vertical stud60 projecting upwardly from the floor or bottom of the car. drive wheel6! is rotatably mounted between a pair of arms 62 projecting downwardlyfrom the rear of the platform 51.

Secured to the drive wheel BI is a sprocket wheel 63 which is adapted tobe driven by a chain 64 from an intermediate sprocket 65 mounted on ashaft 66 supported in a bracket 61 secured to the platform 51. Alsosecured on the shaft 66 is a sprocket 68 which is driven by a chain 69from a sprocket 10 fast on the motor shaft 1|. The weight of the motor56 and of the platform 51' provides sufiicient traction for the drivewheel 6| to propel the car.

The motor 56 and the drive connections are enclosed in a casing 12shaped to simulate the rear end of a rocket discharge device for thepropulsion of vehicles.

When a plurality of cars are coupled together to form a train they mayall be controlled simultaneously from one car preferably the rear car,but which may be any car in the train. The control of the several carscomprising a train is by air pressure, although any other medium may beutilized, such for instance, as electricity. This control involves thesimultaneous control of the carburetors, gears, clutches and brakes onall of the cars in a train. Compressed air for operating these controlsis supplied by a pair of compressors 13 (Figs. 3, 4, and '1) mounted inthe control car and adapted to be operated by the attendant in charge ofthe train.

Tubes 14 convey the air under pressure from the compressors 13 to an airstorage tank 15 (Figs. 3 and 7) mounted in the forward part of the car.A tube 16 (Fig. 7) connects the tank 15 A rubber-tired with a series ofcontrol valves 1], 18, 19, and 8!) mounted on the right side of thecontrol car within easy reach of the operator (see also Figs. 3 and fl).The valve 11 controls the application of the brakes to the drive wheels6| on all of the cars in the train. [8 controls the carburetors therebycontrolling the speed of the train. The valve .15 operates the gearshifting mechanisms forall cars and the valve 80 controls the clutches.

Tubes 8!, 82, 83, and 84 connect the valves 11, 18, 19, and 80respectively with the devices adapted to be controlled thereby. Tubes85,- ;86, 81, and ,88 lead from the valves Ti, 18, 19, and 8Brespectively through a flexible coupling 89, illustrated conventionallyin Figure 7, to the brakes, carburetors, gear shifting mechanisms andclutches .of all, the cars in the train so that operation of any one ofthe control valves 11 to 80 inclusive simultaneously operates thecorresponding mechanisms on all of the cars in the train.

The brakes, indicated generally at 90 .(Fig. '7) are normally held inreleasedpositionby springs (not shown) and are adapted to be applied byair pressure under the control of the valve 11. If it is. decided tohold the brakes applied, the operator places the valve 11 in holdposition. As soon as the air pressure is released the brakes arereleased by their springs (not shown).

The carburetor control valve, or throttle 18 is a two way valve with anon and an off position. Application of air pressure by setting the valve18 to the on position opens the carburetor Bl (Fig. 7) and acceleratesthe motor. The motors are slowed down by shifting the valve 18 to theoff position, which allows the motors to run at idling speed.

The gears, indicated generally at 92, through which the power of themotor is transmitted to the drive wheel 6| are controlled by the valve19. The gears are held in high ratio by a spring (not shown), and areadapted tobe shifted into neutral by the application of a small amountof air pressure, being held in neutral by a suitable spring operatedlocating member (not shown) as long as the proper air pressure ismaintained. The gears are shifted into low ratio by the application ofthe full air pressure.

A clutch mechanism indicated at 93 may be of any suitable type, theclutch being normally held in disengaged position by a spring (notshown), and which clutch is adapted to be forced into engaged or drivingcondition by the application of air pressure under the control of theclutch valve 80 (Fig. 7). The clutch is held in slipping engagement bythe application of a small amount of air pressure which is maintained byshifting the valve 80 to its hold position. The clutch is forced intofull engagement by applying greater air pressure.

In order to start the train, the motors are all started and allowed torun at idling speed, the clutch, brakes and carburetors being held inineffective positions by their respedtive springs (not shown) and thegears being held in neutral by the applicationof the proper airpressure.

The operator first shifts the gears into low ratio by removing the airpressure from the gear operating mechanism (not shown) and allowing thegears to be shifted to low by spring tension. The clutch and carburetorvalves 80 and 18 are then manipulated to engage the clutches and at thesame time to open the throttles. As soon as the train attains sufficientspeed the clutch control valve 80 is operated to disengage the clutchesand then the gear control valve 19 is manipulated to shift the gearsinto high ratio, after which the clutch valve 80 is moved to offposition to allow the clutch spring (not shown) to render the clutcheseffective. The train may now be operated at any desired speed within itslimits.

There. has been described an improved passenger car containing its ownpower device so that said car may be operated singly or coupled togetherin trains. By providing a power drive for each individual car theoperator is enabled to drive the car up the elevation provided in therunway, and further a higher velocity may be attained and said velocitymaintained on the level portions of the runway. The above describedcontrols render the car or train of cars self contained as to startingand stopping and independent of any external elevating and brakingdevices. In Figures 6 and 10 there is illustrated a car substantially ofthe same construction as that shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5 with thedifference that the motor driving means and the control devices areomitted. The coupling of this car is concealed by the body constructionfor better stream line effect and to reduce the wind resistance. Thiscar is adapted to be operated by gravity and when a plurality of saidcars are coupled together to form a train, such as is diagrammaticallyillustrated in Figure 10, they are self steering and the stabilizingsprings 22, 34, 40, and 41 prevent buckling and whipping out of line.

Obviously by increasing the size and capacity of the above describedcars, trains comprising a plurality of such cars may be utilized asprime movers to transport passengers and freight between distant pointsat very high speeds. Such trains would have the advantage of lighter andless costly construction and the troughs in which they are adapted tooperate could be constructed at far less expense than the presentrailway construction having heavy expensive steel rails and road bedswhich are costly to maintain. In addition trains comprised of my novelcars could be perfectly streamlined and would be capable of very highspeed with safety.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirablyadapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated it is to be understoodthat it is not intended to confine the invention to the form orembodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment invarious forms all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In an amusement device, the combination with an upwardly concaverunway, of a train comprising a plurality of self-propelled carsoperating on said runway, each car being mounted at both ends and in thecenter on caster wheels to permit all of the cars in the trainsimultaneously to move sidewise, and springs to control the casterwheels.

2. In an amusement device, the combination with an upwardly concaverunway, of a train comprising a plurality of cars operating on saidrunway each car comprising two units pivoted on a horizontaltransversely extending axis, caster wheels on both ends and in thecenter of each car to permit each car to be self-steering, andindividual drive means for each car.

3. In an amusement device, a passenger carrying car having a bodyconstructed in two parts, said parts being pivotally connectedtransversely at the bottom of the body to make the body flex,- ible, andsprings between the upper body parts to yieldingly hold said parts incontact with the said wheels, said springs at the rear of the car'surface on which the car is travelling.

4. In an amusement device, a passenger carrying car having a bodyconstructed in two parts, said parts being pivotally connectedtransversely at the bottom and having springs between said parts, saidbody being supported by a plurality of caster wheels each of whichwheels is independently mounted, and a separate stabilizing spring foreach wheel.

5. In an amusement device, a passenger carrying car mounted on casterwheels certain of which wheels are mounted on members pivoted to extendlongitudinally of said car, and other of said wheels being mounted onmembers pivoted to extend transversely of the car.

6. In an amusement device, a passenger carrying car mounted on casterwheels certain of which wheels are mounted on members pivoted to extendlongitudinally of said car, other of said wheels being mounted onmembers pivoted to extend transversely of the car, and a stabilizingspring for each wheel.

7. In an amusement device, a passenger carrying car having a bodyconstructed in two parts, said parts being pivotally connectedtransversely to make the body flexible, springs between the body partsto yieldingly hold said body parts in contact with the surface on whichthe car is travelling, the body parts being mounted on independentcaster wheels, each wheel being provided with an individual stabilizingspring.

8. In an amusement device a passenger carrying car provided with aplurality of independent caster wheels, individual springs forstabilizing being of greater tension than the springs at the front ofsaid car.

9. In an amusement device, a passenger carrying car, caster wheels tosupport the car, the wheels at the ends being mounted on members pivotedto extend transversely of the car, and the wheels supporting the centerof the car being mounted on members pivoted to extend longitudinally ofthe car, and separate stabilizing springs for each individual wheel.

10. In an amusement device, an upwardly concave runway, a passenger carprovided with a plurality of independent caster wheels so constructedthat each wheel is free to follow the irregular contour of the runway,each of said wheels being provided with an individual control spring,said car being adapted to be operated by gravity on said runway.

11. In an amusement device, an upwardly concave runway having a spiralloop at one end, and a caster wheeled car the body of which car isformed of two parts, said parts being pivoted to extend on a horizontaltransversely extending axis, said wheels being canted to maintainpositions perpendicular to the concave runway at all times.

12. In an amusement device, an upwardly concave runway, a passenger carfor operating on the runway, said car being provided with independentcaster wheels canted to maintain at all times positions substantiallyperpendicular to the runway, and individual stabilizing springs for eachof the caster wheels.

JOHN N. BARTLETT.

